Continuous biohydrogen production system: construction, operation, and sustainable evaluation

Abstract

Abstract Featuring high caloric value, cleanliness, and renewability, hydrogen is a fuel, believed to be able to change energy structure worldwide. Biohydrogen production technologies effectively utilize waste biomass resources, and produce high-purity hydrogen. Improvements have been made in the biohydrogen production process in recent years. However, there is a lack of operational data and sustainability analysis from pilot plants, to provide a reference for commercial operations. In this report, based on spectrum coupling, thermal effects, and multiphase flow properties of hydrogen production, continuous pilot-scale biohydrogen production systems (dark-and photo -fermentation) are established as a research subject. Then, pilot-scale hydrogen production systems are assessed in terms of sustainability. The system being evaluated, consumes 171,530 MJ of energy and emits 9.37 t of CO2 eq when producing 1 t H2, and has a payback period of 6.86 years. Our analysis also suggests future pathways towards effective biohydrogen production technology development and real-world implementation.